Sunday, April 26, 2009

Lord of the Dance

I just got back from a wonderful Utah Baroque Ensemble concert at my church. A lot of the concert was in Latin and German (with translations). There is nothing like live music to lift the soul. UBE also sang one of my favorites: Lord of the Dance.

Lord of the Dance

I danced in the morning when the world was young
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees
They wouldn't dance, they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen James and John
They came with me so the dance went on

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They ripped, they stripped, they hung me high
Left me there on the cross to die

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced on a Friday when the world turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body, they thought I was gone
But I am the dance, and the dance goes on

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that will never, never die
I'll live in you if you'll live in me
I am the Lord of the dance, said he

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

Saturday, April 25, 2009

My Grandmother's Sewing Machine



Today my cousin dropped off a sewing machine that has sat unused for the last 25 years. It belonged to my grandmother, who was an expert seamstress. The little, plucky Singer 401a circa 1960 looked a little dusty, but not too bad for its age. Its cabinet top looks a little bit rougher. The button holer's case looks like a pink spaceship. I saw on eBay I could sell the accessory case and owner's manual for as much as the machine. Hmmmm.

Ebay is not in this machine's future. I am going to try and find a good home for it so it can continue its life's journey. I realize the machine isn't alive, but the memories I have of its use are. My mother (an expert seamstress in her own right) hemming music camp clothes for me while on vacation at Grandmother's. My grandmother making my sister and I lined bathrobes for Christmas. In the middle of summer, while visiting, I would have to close my eyes and try on the "present". Grandmother would fit the robe to me, take it off and tell me to open my eyes. While I don't fit in it anymore, I still have that robe. My cousin remembers the Christmas Eve pajamas Grandmother would make for her and her siblings. They, too, would have to keep eyes closed. My cousin had to wear gloves the one time Grandmother made a velvet dress for her, so she wouldn't know the type of dress fabric being used.

Grandmother has been gone for 25 years, B and I each have our own machines and so it is time for this machine to find a new, loving home. Maybe I ought to include a blindfold.

UPDATE: The machine has found a new home. Its new owner is a dear friend, an excellent seamstress and is very excited to have a new vintage Singer.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Mooning Ducks and Little Streams



It is that time of year to finally get Fatty Lumpkin out and on the road. Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday's ride.